Brāhmī, radiant and auspicious, gave birth to a son endowed with immense strength—a partial manifestation of the divine attendants. As was proper, the brāhmaṇas soon arrived to perform all the sacred birth rites for the newborn. Time passed, and the children grew steadily, bringing blessing and auspiciousness to all the worlds by their very presence. When the third year was reached, the portion of Krishna within the child became even more powerful, his strength increasing with each passing day. In those days, Krishna’s portion would play joyfully in the fragrant sandalwood forest, accompanied by his brothers. Nearby, the divine horse Ashvini and the graceful deer wandered, close to the celestial horse Uccaiḥśravas. A year later, another child was born—a son in the form of a dove, his appearance most auspicious. Among those born was a brāhmaṇa named Shivaśarman, renowned for his mastery of all branches of knowledge. When Krishna’s portion reached his eighth year, the family performed the naming ceremony and all the appropriate rites, marking the boy’s continued growth and sanctity. As years rolled on, Sūta narrated, when Krishna’s portion entered his ninth year, he became even stronger, excelling not only in might but also as the foremost in dharmaśāstra, the science of righteousness. Then, he dispatched his own army with a mission of conquest, sending them to the great city. Upon arrival, his envoys addressed King Parimala, saying, “Listen, O descendant of the lunar dynasty: One-sixth of the tax is to be collected and given to our king. From this day forward, if anyone pays tax to the previous king, it will not be accepted. Those kings who have joined Jayachandra’s side have done so only out of fear.” Hearing this message, King Parimala approached the great-souled ruler, bringing with him wealth amounting to one million. Together, a hundred thousand heroes journeyed to Kanyakubja. There, they declared, “King Prithviraja, the great king, now desires tribute from you. At present, there are many feudatory chiefs in my land.” After this declaration, King Parimala, angered, took up the Vaishnava weapon against them. But when the great king heard of this, he was seized with great fear. In the midst of these events, various wrestlers arrived and were honored by the king. At this time, the son of the lord of the earth, strong and now sixteen years of age, approached his maternal uncle, Abhaya, mighty and renowned. Bowing in respect, he stood before him. Abhaya, who was skilled in battle and filled with affection, addressed his sister’s son, saying, “How can you, strong as a thunderbolt, be compared to this son, who is still so tender?” Hearing these words, the king—his uncle and lord of the earth—spoke, “Listen, O king, and I will tell you how I came to know about this child.” He summoned learned men and joyfully asked them to determine the most auspicious moment for the child’s future. They examined the marks and spoke supreme words to the king, saying, “This son of the regional king is truly suited for the Krishna lineage.” Upon hearing this, the heroic Lakṣaṇa set out towards Barhiṣmatī, as had been done in times of old. There, he established his own kingdom in the northern Naimisha forest. O king, during the festival of serpents, on the fifth day beneath a clear sky, an event unfolded. Distressed by harsh words, Krishna’s descendant swiftly seized safety with his arms and, mighty as he was, prepared for battle. In but a moment of fighting, he threw his opponent down in the center of the battlefield. Seeing his own son fallen and unconscious, the king, sword in hand, rushed forward. Perceiving the king and his men filled with anger, Krishna’s descendant grew even more powerful, ready to face whatever would come.